August 23, 2021 3:40 a.m.

Some Douglas County government staff have been deployed to help at CHI Mercy Medical Center and at the Douglas Public Health Network, due to the surge in COVID-19 cases.

A county release said much like the giant 2019 snow storm and at the start of the pandemic in March of 2020, the Board of Commissioners have worked with the county’s Human Resources Department to develop and manage a list of county employees that are available to be redeployed to temporary assignments during a crisis.

Last week employees from numerous departments began to help both organizations and assist in their operations

Commissioner Tim Freeman said, “It is critical that we do our part as County government to make sure that our local hospitals are able to still provide vital medical services to our community”. Freeman said there is no mission that the county performs, other than public safety, that is as important at this time than “…supporting our hospitals and public health”.

Approximately two dozen county employees with various professional backgrounds are now performing duties that are much different than their normal jobs. Human Resources Director Michael Kurtz said there are juvenile counselors, legal assistants, property appraisers, and veteran’s counselors that are now assisting with screening patients, helping to transport medical supplies, or answering calls about where people can get vaccinated. Kurtz said, “This is a workforce that understands there is a community need and they are glad to be able to do their part”.